School Playground Injuries Due to Extreme Weather

School playgrounds provide an excellent opportunity for kids to enjoy themselves, especially during the winter season. Children indulge in several activities, for instance, making snow angels, playing tag, and throwing snowballs at each other. Moreover, they may also enjoy swings, slides and other outdoor playing equipment at their disposal. However, schools should take special precaution during extreme weather before permitting children to play outdoors in order to ensure their safety.

As per statistics provided by Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, emergency departments treat more than 200,000 kids ranging from 14-year-olds and younger for playground-related injuries in the United States. Furthermore, these injuries cause severe medical problems which may not always be treatable. Around 45% of conditions pertaining to playground-related injuries cause severe fractures, concussions, internal injuries, and dislocations. In some unfortunate incidents, children may suffer permanent injury to their spine or brain.

Why School Playground Injuries Happen in Extreme Weather

There are several reasons which may result in playground injuries due to extreme weather in winters. For instance, equipment can be extremely wet and slippery due to ice, sleet, or freezing rain, making it extremely difficult for children to hold their grip or maintain their balance. Ground covers may also pose threat to children especially if temperature gets very low or below freezing. In addition to that, snow can prove to be deadly and dangerous for children in some cases. For example, if a kid gets piled under snow and it gets too heavy for him or her to make an escape, it may suffocate the child and cause death.

Safety Precautions to Prevent Playground Injuries

• Assess weather conditions before permitting children to go to school playground
• Ensure proper maintenance and check playground swings, equipment, and area
• Make sure that children are wearing proper clothing before they go to the school playground
• Never leave children unsupervised or unattended on the playground
• Devise a formal plan for providing first aid in case children become injured

If your child has suffered a playground injury due to negligence of the school, you are entitled to sue them for damages. It can be highly beneficial for your case to hire an experienced personal injury lawyer to obtain rightful compensation for their injuries. Your attorney will ensure that your right remains protected throughout that litigation process.

A skillful personal injury lawyer will find evidence and devise a strong case against the liable party and seek maximum amount of compensation for your child’s sufferings. This amount may include payment for present and future medical expenses, pain and emotional distress, and rehabilitation, amongst other expenses. Moreover, your personal injury lawyer may help you to recoup any losses that are directly caused by the playground injury.

If you wish to find out more about this topic or schedule a free consultation, contact the offices of Robert Edens at (847) 395-2200 to speak with an experienced personal injury lawyer.